Regional Government
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Roles
Regional government structures provide the platform for regional co-operation and planning in emergency preparedness where one would add value by improving co-ordination between local and central response.
Co-operation at the regional level in England is a key element of the UK's civil protection framework. The regional tier is not a judgement on the local level; rather, it is a mechanism for improving co-ordination and communication into and out from the centre of government.
The key function of the regional tier is to improve co-ordination and communication between central government and local responders and other organisations and to ensure that regions are prepared to respond to events which would affect most or all of the region or which could overwhelm any locality. The successful delivery of the regional resilience capability rests critically on local responders and other organisations and central government working together in partnership to ensure effective and co-ordinated planning and response.
Structure
Co-operation at the regional level involves the representatives of local responders and central government bodies working together to address larger-scale civil protection issues. Co-operation may take place within a multi-agency setting or directly between two or more responders. Organisations operating on a fully regional basis (for example regional assemblies) are also expected to be fully involved in this co-operation, depending on regional circumstances.
Emergency Planning
Planning at the regional level is different in many ways from planning by local responders at the local level. The objectives of this planning work are:
- Improving co-ordination across the region and between regions;
- Improving co-ordination between the centre and the region; and
- Improving co-ordination between the region and the local response capability.
There are three types of regional plan:
- A generic regional response plan for activating Regional Civil Contingencies Committees (RCCCs) and regional apparatus.
- A business continuity plan for the Government Office to ensure the Government Office can continue to operate its essential functions in an emergency
- Regional Capability Co-ordination Plans (RCCPs) to support local planning, by ensuring that local plans can be scaled up in response to wider impact events.
The validation of regional plans is just as important as plan validation at the local level. Internal publication and agreement of plans underpins this. Plans are also tested through exercises and key staff should receive training.
Regional Resilience Teams
Regional Resilience Teams (RRTs) operate in each of the Government Offices in the nine English regions. These teams, led by a senior official, with support from three or four staff drawing heavily on external civil protection experience, facilitate much of the regional activity. They take the lead in managing key relationships with local responders, communicating between regional partners, and between the regions and central departments. They also provide improved information-gathering and reporting back to the centre. In particular, the teams will provide secretariat support for the Regional Resilience Forums and where necessary for Regional Civil Contingencies Committees (RCCCs) in the event of regional response arrangements being called upon. The teams will also work with the devolved administrations to ensure strong cross-border arrangements are in place.
